Nassau County Executive Thomas S. Gulotta and Nassau County Comptroller Fred Parola announced on Aug. 10 that they are withholding $25.2 million in station maintenance and operating subsidy payments to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) until service improves. LIRR commuters have been subjected to an unprecedented litany of late, overcrowded and poorly air-conditioned trains since the start of the summer season.

"Our commuters are suffering through the worst summer of service in a decade," said County Executive Gulotta. "LIRR commuters pay significant fares to ride the LIRR. They deserve the quality service they are paying for. Until the railroad can meet its obligation to meet basic service requirements, we are withholding our station maintenance and operating subsidy to the railroad, which totals $25.2 million. The current situation is deplorable. I am calling on the LIRR management to take immediate steps to remedy the problems."

"As comptroller, I have time after time criticized the railroad for its failure to provide the basic level of service to their customers. I cannot in good faith make payments to the railroad while it is failing our commuters," said Comptroller Parola.

Gulotta and Parola are requiring the LIRR to provide the following services to commuters before payments are made:

* the problem of overcrowded trains is resolved

* the railroad resolves the problem of insufficient air conditioning on the trains

* customers receive refunds for the poor service

* a commitment is made that the new diesel equipment that is put in service be used on the Oyster Bay branch immediately.

"Our taxpayers subsidize the Long Island Rail Road by tens of millions of dollars each year, while the railroad's customers subsidize the railroad through their fares by hundreds of millions of dollars each year. They deserve better service, a refund and realistic solutions to the problems they have been experiencing," concluded Mr. Gulotta.

In a related matter, County Executive Gulotta and County Comptroller Fred Parola will undertake a commuter survey to determine the extent of the problem commuters have been experiencing. The survey is expected to reach LIRR "Mail 'n Ride" commuters during this month.